Eric Williams
NFL Reporter
For the first time since 2008, the Washington Commanders are 4-1, and they’re on pace for the team’s first winning season in nearly a decade.
The dynamic leader of Washington’s surprising turnaround is No. 2 overall pick Jayden Daniels, who tops all rookies in passing yards (1,135) and rushing yards (300). He’s No. 5 in the NFL in quarterback rating (106.2) and is the first rookie quarterback since 1970 to lead his team to at least 150 points in the first five games of a season (155).
Daniels is the first player in league history to eclipse 1,000 passing and 250 rushing yards in his first five games.
Much like C.J. Stroud last year, Daniels has the Commanders rolling and in the playoff hunt. But can he sustain his elite performance over a full season? In Week 6, the rookie faces perhaps his toughest test so far against the Ravens, led by reigning MVP Lamar Jackson. That heavyweight matchup in Baltimore is followed by home games against the woeful Carolina Panthers and then a rookie QB showdown against Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears.
If the Commanders can get a couple wins in the next three games, they have a chance to keep stacking victories and chase an NFC East title, something Washington hasn’t accomplished since 2015. And if that happens, Daniels figures to be right in the middle of the MVP race.
New Commanders head coach Dan Quinn was a Seattle Seahawks assistant when Russell Wilson played lights out as a rookie in 2012, so he understands how to manage the situation.
Daniels makes his first appearance on MVP Watch, as he jumped from 25/1 to 10/1 this week in MVP odds. Patrick Mahomes remains the betting favorite, while Josh Allen and Jackson are tied for second.
Let’s take a look at my top five MVP candidates heading into Week 6.
1. Lamar Jackson, Ravens
Current MVP Odds: +600 (bet $10 to win $70 total)
The reigning MVP is rounding into form as we head toward the midpoint of…
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Publish date : 2024-10-09 16:26:04
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